Evaluation of threatened abortion by ultrasound

Abstract

A retrospective analysis was made of 817 pregnancies that were examined ultrasonically because of the clinical diagnosis of threatened abortion. A total of 285 (34.9%) pregnancies aborted and the majority did so within seven days of ultrasonic examination. This examination predicted the presence of a noncontinuing pregnancy in each case. Very few ultrasonically diagnosed continuing pregnancies subsequently aborted. The incidence of preterm delivery in those pregnancies which continued beyond the 28th week was increased threefold. There was, however, no increased incidence of either congenital abnormalities or growth retarded infants in this group.